Bowling pin spotting machine having movable pin deck and stationary spotting, respotting table



6 1 8 .L m 2 h I K ,0 L w 3 e e NG MACHINE HAVING MOVABLE PIN DE ANDSTATIONARY SPOTTING, RESPOTTING TABLE Filed Oct. 17, 1961 May 12, 1964H. c. CONGELLI BOWLING PIN SPOTTI INVENTOR HENRY C.OONGELL| ATTORN EYMay 12, 1964 BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE HAVING MOVABLE PIN ONARYSPOTTING, RESPOTTING TABLE AND STATI Filed Oct. 17, 1961 H C. CONGELLIDECK ' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HENRY C. GONGELLI ATTORNEY M y 12, 6 H. c.CONGELLI 3 63 BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE HAVING MOVABLE PIN DECK ANDSTATIONARY SPOTTING, RESPOTTING TABLE Filed OGt. 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet3 INVENTOR. HENRY c. CONGELLI ATTORN EY May 1 1964 H. c. CONGELLI3,132,863

BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE HAVING MOVABLE PIN DECK AND STATIONARYSPOTTING, RESPOTTING TABLE Filed OCC. 17, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.5

INVENTOR HENRY C. CONGELLI BY %Md% ATTORN Y United States Patent (:e

3,132,863 BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE HAVING MGVABLE PIN DECK ANDSTATIONARY SPOTTENG, RESPQTTWG TABLE Henry C. Congelli, Stamford, Conn,assignor to American Machine 8: Foundry Company, a corporation of NewJersey Filed Get. 17, 1961, Ser. No. 145,698 12 Claims. (Cl. 273 43)This invention relates to bowling pin spotting machines.

Heretofore, it has been common to provide a bowling pin spotting machinewith spotting units and with respotting devices which are mounted onsome form of a framework or table that moves vertically relative to theplaying surface of the alley bed during operating of the bowling pinspotting machine. During the course of play, if any bowling pins remainstanding on the alley after the first ball of a frame has been thrown,the bowling pin spotting machine performs a respotting cycle. Toaccomplish this, the table is lowered and raised to enable therespotting devices to grip and pick up the standing pins. Then, a pinsweep clears the alley of any deadwood. Afterwards, the table is loweredand the respotting devices respot the pins on the alley. Then, the tableand respotting devices are raised out of the line of play.

After the last ball of a frame has been thrown, the bowling pin spottingmachine performs a spotting cycle. At the beginning of this cycle, thealley bed is swept clear of pins. Then, the table is lowered and thespotting units spot a complete set of pins in playing position on thealley bed. Afterwards, the table and spotting units are raised out ofthe line of play.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide apparatus forhandling bowling pins to spot and to respot the pins during the courseof play, the apparatus being advantageous over machines of the typediscussed above because it eliminates the necessity of the pin sweep ofits associated drive mechanism and of the drive means for raising andlowering the table supporting the spotting units and the respottingdevices, and it simplifies the construction of the apparatus fordelivering pins to the spotting units.

Another object is to provide a bowling pin spotting machine wherein theframework or table supporting the spotting units and respotting devicesis stationary and cooperates with a movable platform on which the pinsare spotted and respotted.

A further object is to provide means for moving a movable platformrelative to a stationary table to enable bowling pins to be spotted andrespotted upon the platform.

Another object is to provide a means of moving and tilting a platformfor removal of dead wood.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attainedin accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, referenceis had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating oneembodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view, with portions broken away, of a portion ofthe mechanism shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a rear elevational view, with portions removed, of a portionof the mechanism shown in FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view, with portions removed, taken alongline 4--4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a Wiring diagram illustrating a control 3,132,863 PatentedMay 12, 1964 system for operating the embodiment shown in FIG- URES 14.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 abowling pin spotting machine mounted adjacent the pit 11 of a bowlingalley installation. The machine comprises a conveyor 12, a bowling pinelevating mechanism 13, a distributor 14, a table 15, a plurality ofspotting units 16, a plurality of respotting devices 17 and a platform18.

Conveyor 12 extends across the bottom of pit 11 and is adapted to bedriven in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 1 so that its upper lapmoves toward the rear of the pit and moves any pins which fall onto theconveyor onto a guide chute 19. Bowling pin elevating mechanism 13 is ofthe type disclosed in 2,767,983 Holloway et al., and arranged to receivethe bowling pins from chute 19 and elevate such pins and discharge themonto the pin receiving and orienting chute 20 of distributor 14.

A pair of brackets 22 are rigidly secured to parallel kickbacks 21 whichextend along the side of pit 11 and platform 18. Brackets 22 are alsorigidly secured to table 15 so that the table is stationary and ismounted above platform 18 and out of the line of play. Table 15 supportsspotting units 16 and respotting devices 17, the table, the spottingunits and the respotting devices being similar to those disclosed inPatent 2,930,616 Holloway et al., except that in the present inventionthe table is stationary, whereas in the device disclosed in this patentthe table is movable.

Distributor 14 is similar to the type disclosed in Patent 2,767,984Zuercher, but differs in that, since table 15 is stationary, it is notnecessary to construct distributor 14 so that it would move with thetable. Distributor 14 is operative to distribute the bowling pinsreceived from elevating mechanism 1'5 onto spotting units 16.

Platform 18 is wooden and has a flat, rectangular shape. Platform 18 ismovable through a plurality of positions including a horizontal playingposition indicated by the full lines in FIGURE 1, a horizontalspottingrespotting position indicated by the dotted lines at A in FIGURE1, and an inclined dumping position indicated by the dotted lines at Bin FIGURE 1. A pair of parallel gutters 23 are rigidly secured to thesides of platform 18 for movement therewith. Platform 18 includes atransversely extending plank 24 secured to the front end of the platformand engageable, when the platform is in the playing position, with astationary stop. member 25. The stop member extends transversely acrossthe front of alley bed 26 and is operative to align the upper surface ofthe platform with the upper surface of the alley bed, when the platformis in the playing position, so that the platform constitutes the rearportion of the playing-surface.

Platform 18 is pivotally mounted on a pair of parallel, laterally spacedsupport arms 27 and 28 by a pair of laterally spaced brackets 29connected to the front ends of arms 27 and 28 and mounted adjacent anddepending from the front portion of platform 18. Arms 27 and 28 extendlongitudinally beneath platform 18 and are pivotally connected at theirrear ends to a pair of laterally spaced brackets 30 secured to astationary base plate 31. A strengthening rib 32 extends between thefront ends of arms 27 and 28 and serves to further rigidify the platformsupport structure to prevent the platform from tilting to either sideduring operation thereof.

A rotatable shaft 33 is journaled at opposite ends in intermediateportions of arms 27 and 28 and extends horizontally and transverselybeneath platform 18. Shaft 33 is keyed adjacent opposite ends to a pairof parallel laterally spaced arms 34 and 35 which extend forwardly anddownwardly from shaft 3-3. Each of arms 34 and 35 carries a roller 36engaged with base plate 31. The base plate is preferably metallic andprovides a wear-resistant surface for rollers 36. Arm 34 has a lug 37pivotally connected to one end of a link 38 having its other endpivotally connected to a crank 39 mounted on the output shaft 4% of atransmission 41 driven by an electric motor 42.

Rotatably mounted on shaft 33 and concentric thereto is a sleeve 43having a pair of integral, parallel, laterally spaced arms 44 and 45disposed between arms 34 and 35. Each of arms 44 and 45 extendsrearwardly and upwardly from sleeve 43 and carries a roller 46 engagedwith a wear-resistant plate 47 secured to the bottom of platform 18. Arm45 has a lug 48 pivotally connected to one end of a link 49 having itsother end pivotally connected to a crank 50 mounted on the output shaft51 of a transmission 52 driven by an electric motor 53. Transmissions 41and 52 and motors 42 and 53 are mounted on base plate 31.

When motor 42 is actuated, output shaft 50 rotates crank 33 to drivelink 38 and oscillate shaft 33 at arms 34 and 35 about the axis of shaft33. Such movement of arms 34 and 35 rolls rollers 36 along plate 31 andthereby'produces forces which, acting through shaft 33 on arms 27 and28, pivots or oscillates arms 27 and 28 about a transverse, horizontal,stationary axis extending through brackets 3%. Movement of arms 27 and23 moves brackets 22% and platform 18.

When motor 53 is actuated, output shaft 51 rotates crank 59 which driveslink 49 to oscillate sleeve 43 and oscillate arms 44 and 45 about theaxis of sleeve 43. Oscillation of arms 44 and 45 rolls rollers 46alongplates 47 and thereby pivots platform 18 about a transverse, horizontalaxis extending through brackets 2%. This axis is movable and is parallelto the axis of rotation of arms 27 and 28.

The motors are selectively operated in timed sequences, causing thespotting machine to perform a spotting cycle and a respotting cycle. Oneway of accomplishing this is illustrated in FIGURE 5. As shown, theactuation of motor 42 is controlled by a pair of single-pole,singlethrow, normally open switches 54 and '55 and the actuation ofmotor 53 is controlled by a pair of single-pole, single-throw, normallyopen switches 56 and 57. Operation of switches 54 and 56 is controlledby a pair of cams S8 and 59. driven by a timing motor 60, whereasoperation of switches 55 and 57 is controlled by a pair of cams 61 and62 driven by a timing motor 63. Timing motors 6t and 63 havepush-buttons 64 and 65, respectively, which, upon actuation thereof,cause the timing motors to rotate the cams driven thereby through onerevolution (360).

The positions of the cams and switches shown in FIG- URE correspond tothose which occur at the start of a spotting cycle and of a respottingcycle, the cams being driven in the direction of the arrows uponactuation of the timing motors associated therewith. Each cam isarranged to close the switch and thereby actuate the motor associatedtherewith for a period of time sutficient only to enable the motoractuated by the closing of the switch to rotate the crank driven therebythrough onehalf a revolution 180 Spotting units 16 are actuated by ashaft 66 keyed to a crank 67 driven in one direction by a spring 68 andin the opposite direction by a cable 69 which passes over a pair ofpulleys 7i) and 71 and is connected to a lever 72. As best seen inFIGURE 4, lever 72 is pivoted about a horizontal pin 73 supported on acollar 74 mounted for rotation about a vertical pin 75. Lever 72 has alug 76 connected to the plunger 77 of a solenoid 78 mounted on collar 74for rotation therewith, energization and deenergization of the solenoidbeing effective to pivot lever 72 about pin 73 and move a cam follower79 relative to a cam 80 carried by output shaft 51. Cam 80 4 has a camgroove 81 arranged to be in alignment with the cam follower so that,when the solenoid is energized, the cam follower moves into the camgroove. The actuation of solenoid 7 8 is controlled by a single-pole,singlethrow, normally open switch 32 actuated by a cam 83 driven bytiming motor 63.

A guard 8- is attached to the forward end of platform 18 and includes atransversely extending bar 85 which, when the platform is raised, isoperative to prevent any bowling balls from rolling from the alley bedand under the platform. A weighted curtain 86 is connected to the frontend of platform 18 and is draped over rail 85 to improve appearance andprevent any misplaced pins from rolling under platform 18.

A pair of laterally spaced stop members 87 and 88 are engageable withthe under surface of gutters 23, when the platform 18 is in the playingposition, and support the rear of the gutters and platform to insurethat the platform will be level and in alignment with the upper surfaceof the alley bed.

Operation Vt/hen platform 18 is in its playing position, cranks 39 andSit are horizontal and point substantially directly toward the front, orleft, as viewed in FIGURE 1. Let us assume, for the purpose ofdescribing the operation 'of the spotting machine, that platform 18 isin its playing position, a player has just thrown the first ball of .aframe and he did not get a. strike, i.e., at least one pin remainsstanding. In such an event, it is necessary that the spotting machineperform a respotting cycle. To accomplish this, push-button 64 is.depressed to energize timing motor 60 which rotates cams 5S and 59through one revolution.

During the first one-quarter revolution, cams 58 and 59 close switches54 and 56 and actuate motors 42 and 53 so that they rotate cranks 39 and50 through onehalf a revolution. Rotation of crank 39 pivots arms 34 and35 so that rollers 36 roll rearwardly and thereby pivot arms 27 and 28clockwise, as viewed in FIGURE 1, to raise brackets 29 and the front endof platform 18. The rotation of crank 55 swings arms 44 and 45 so thatrollers 46 roll forwardly along plates 47 and thereby pivot platform 18counterclockwise, as viewed in FIG- URE 1, about brackets 29. The partsare proportioned so that the raising of brackets 29 and the pivotalmovement of platform 18 thereabout causes platform 13 to remainhorizontal and thereby raise any standing pins without causing them totopple or fall over. As the platform moves into its 'respotting positionA, each stand ing pin actuates a respotting device 17 which, at thispoint in the cycle, merely grips the pin.

During the second one-quarter revolution of cams 58 and 59, switch 54 isopen and switch 56 is closed for a period of time sufficient to actuatemotor 53 whereby crank 56 is rotated through another one-half of arevolution. That is, during this portion of the cycle, crank Si? isreturned to its starting position in which it points forwardly. Thisrotation of crank 53 pivots arms 44 and 45 clockwise, as viewed inFIGURE 1, whereby rollers 46 roll rearwa'rdly and allow platform 18 topivot, due to its own weight, clockwise as viewed in FIG- URE 1, fromposition A to dumping position B. In the dumping position, platform 18is rearwardly inclined at an angle sufficiently great so that all pinson either the platform or gutters slide or roll therealong and aredumped onto conveyor 12. As the platform moves from the respottingposition to the dumping position, the respotting devices hold the pinsgripped thereby in posi tions spaced from and above the platform.

During the third one-quarter revolution of cams 53 and 59, switch 54 isopen and switch 56 is closed to actuate motor 53 and cause crank 50 tobe rotated through one-half revolution. This rotation of crank 50 pivotsarms 44 and 45 in a counter-clockwise direction as Q viewed in FIGURE 1and thereby pivots platform 18 counter-clockwise from its dumpingposition B back to respotting position A. As the platform moves intoposition A, it engages the bottom of each pin held by the respottingdevices, causing such pin to. be released and respotted on the platform.

During the fourth and last one-quarter revolution of cams 58 and 59,both switches 54 and 56 are closed to actuate motors 42 and 53 to rotatecranks 39 and 59 through one-half revolution and into their forwardlypointing positions. As cranks 39 and 50 rotate, arms 34, 35, 44 and 45are pivoted clockwise as viewed in FIGURE 1 so that the platform remainshorizontal and is lowered into its playing position and thereby carrieswith it the respotted pins.

When it is desired to spot a set of pins, such as after the last ball ofa frame has been thrown, push button 65 is depressed to actuate timingmotor 63 which rotates cams 55, 57 and 83 through one revolution. Duringthe first one-third revolution, switches 57 and 82 are open and switch55 is closed for a period of time sufficient for motor 42 to rotatecrank 39 through one-half revolution. This rotation of crank 39 pivotsarms 34 and 35 causing arms 27 and 28 to raise brackets 29 and platform18 from the playing position into dumping position.

During the second one-third revolution, switch 55 is open and switches57 and 82 are closed. Switch 57 is closed to operate motor 53 to rotatecrank 55 through one-half revolution causing platform 18 to be pivotedfrom dumping position B into spotting position A.

During the third or last one-third revolution, switches 55 and 57 areclosed whereby motors 42 and 53 rotate cranks 39 and 50 through one-halfrevolution so that platform 18 remains horizontal and is lowered fromposition A to its playing position.

When, during the second one-third revolution, switch 82 is closed by cam83, solenoid 7% is energized and moves cam follower 79 into engagementwith cam groove 81 of cam 81 The cam groove is arranged so that, asmotor 53 rotates cam 8t), lever 72 is pivoted clockwise as viewed inFIGURE 2 causing cable 69 to rotate crank 67 against the bias of spring68 and swing spotting units 16 into their spotting positions. Thismovement occurs in a timed relationship relative to movement of theplatform so that, as the platform moves into position A, the pins aredeposited on the platform. Cam 83 also closes switch 82 during theinitial portion of the last one-third revolution whereby solenoid 7%remains energized for a period sufiicient to allow the pins spotted onplatform 18 to clear the spotting units. After the pins are clear,switch 82 opens and de-energizes solenoid 78 whereupon cam follower 79is disengaged from cam 80, allowing the spotting units to be moved intotheir storage position so that they can be filled with a set of pins andallowing lever '72 to be pivoted into its normally inactive position, bythe bias of spring 68.

While only one embodiment has been disclosed, it will be apparent thatmany changes can be made in the combination and arrangement of parts andin the details of construction without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of a generallyhorizontal stationary table fixedly mounted out of the line of play,spotting means supported by said table, respotting means supported bysaid table, a generally vertically movable platform disposed beneathsaid table and adapted to support a complete set of freely standingbowling pins in playing positions, and means for moving said platformvertically in horizontal aspect relative to said table sequentiallythrough a plurality of predetermined positions to perform a spottingcycle and a respotting cycle.

2. In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of a generallyhorizontal stationary table, a plurality of spotting units operativelysupported by said table, a plurality of respotting devices operativelysupported by said table, a flat movable platform mounted below saidtable for supporting a complete set of freely standing bowling pins, anddriving means for moving said platform generally vertically inhorizontal aspect between a first position in which said platform isadapted to support bowling pins in playing position and a plurality ofother positions including at least one in which bowling pins can bespotted and respotted on. said platform.

3. In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of a platformhaving a fiat upwardly facing surface adapted, when in a horizontalposition, to support a plurality of bowling pins thereon, means mountingsaid platform for movement between a plurality of positions including afirst position wherein said surface is aligned with the upper surface ofthe alley and constitutes a playing area for supporting bowling pinsduring play, a second position wherein said surface is horizontal andspaced above said first position, and a third position wherein saidsurface is inclined downwardly and toward the rear of the pit so thatany pins resting on said plat-' form are dumped into the pit, aplurality of spotting units mounted above said platform and operable tospot a plurality of bowling pins on said platform, a plurality ofrespotting devices operable to respot standing pins on said platform,and driving means for moving said platform and wherein said drivingmeans is operative to move said platform through a respotting cycle bysequentially moving said platform from said first position to saidsecond position to said third position to said second posi tion and backto said first position, said respotting devices being operable to gripstanding pins as said platform moves into said second position from saidfirst position and to release such pins when said platform moves intosaid second position from said third position.

4. A bowling pin spotting machine in accordance with claim 3 whereinsaid driving means is operative to move said platform through a spottingcycle by sequentially moving said platform from said first position tosaid third position to said second position and back to said firstposition, said spotting units being operative to spot a set of pins onsaid platform when said platform moves into said second position.

5 In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of a stationarytable, spotting means mounted on said table, respotting means mounted onsaid table, a fiat platform disposed beneath said table and adapted,when in a playing position, to constitute a portion of the playingsurface of the alley bed, support arm means mounted for pivotal movementabout a fixed, transversely-extending, horizontal axis, said support armmeans being pivotally connected to said platform adjacent one endthereof, driven means engaged with said platform and selectivelyoperable to pivot said platform about said support arm means, anddriving means operative to move said support arm means and said drivenmeans to move said platform between a plurality of positions including aplaying position, a dumping position, and a spot-respot position spacedabove and parallel to said playing position.

6. A bowling pin spotting machine in accordance with claim 5 whereinsaid driving means is operative to move said platform through a spottingcycle by sequentially moving said platform from said playing position tosaid dumping position to said spot-respot position and back to saidplaying position.

7. A bowling pin spotting machine in accordance with claim 6 whereinsaid driving means is operative to actuate said support arm means andsaid driven means to move said platform through a respotting cycle bysequentially moving said platform from said playing position to saidspot-respot position to said dumping position to said spot-respotposition and back to said playing position.

8. In a bowling pin spotting machine the combination of a flat platformmovable between a plurality of positions including a playing position inwhich said platform constitutes a portion of the playing area of abowling alley; first support means pivotally supporting said platform ata location adjacent one end of said platform; second support meanspivotally supporting said platform at a location adjacent the other endof said platform; means for moving said first support means to pivotsaid platform about said second support means; and means for moving saidfirst and second support means concurrently to elevate and lower saidplatform while maintaining said platform substantially horizontal duringsaid elevating and lowering of said platform.

9. A bowling pin spotting machine in accordance with claim 8 whichfurther includes a stationary table disposed above said movableplatform, a plurality of spotting units operably mounted on said table,and a plurality of respotting devices operably mounted on said table.

10; In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of a platformhaving a flat surface; said platform being normally disposed in a firstposition, in which said fiat surface is horizontal and forms acontinuation of a playing surface of a bowling alley, said platformbeing movable to a second position, in which said fiat surface issuficiently inclined toward a pit so that any pins on said 'fiat surfaceare dumped into the pit, and to a third position in which said flatsurface is horizontal and at an elevation above that of the firstposition; a stationary table generally vertically above said fiatsurface when said platform is in said first position; pin spotting meanscarried by said table to deposit a complete set of freely standingbowling pins on said fiat surface when said platform is in said thirdposition; and means for moving said platform to each of said positions,said means maintaining said flat surface substantially horizontal duringmovement of said platform from said third position to said firstposition to prevent toppling of said standing bowling pins.

11. In a bowling pin spotting machine, the combination of a platformhaving a flat surface; said platform being normally disposed in a firstposition, in which said flat surface is horizontal and forms acontinuation of a playing surface of a bowling alley, said platformbeing movable to a second position, in which said flat surface ishorizontal and at an elevation above that of the first position, and toa third position in which said flat surface is sufficiently inclinedtoward a pit so that any pins on said fiat surface are dumped into thepit; a stationary table, said table being vertically above said flatsurface when said platform is in said third position; bowling pinrespotting means carried by said table to grip standing respot pins onsaid platform when said platform is in said second position, said respotmeans being effective to hold said respot pins while said table movesfrom said second position to said third position and back to said secondposition, and to respot said respot pins on said surface when saidplatform is again in said second position; said platform beingmaintained with its surface substantially horizontal during movementfrom said first position to said second position and from said secondposition to said first position to prevent toppling of respot pins onsaid fiat surface.

12. In a bowling pin spotting and respotting machine operable to performa spotting cycle and a respotting cycle, the combination of a tablefixed above the plane of the playing surface of a bowling alley, aplurality of bowling pin spotting devices carried by said table, aplurality of bowling pin respotting devices carried by said table; aplatform below said table, said platform having a flat projection-free,upwardly-facing surface in general alignment with said table, saidplatform being normally disposed in a first position, in which said flatsurface is horizontal and forms a continuation of the playing surface ofa bowling alley, and driving means for moving said platform; so that,during a spotting cycle, said driving means moves said platform to aspotting position in which said flat surface is horizontal and saidplatform is elevated above its first position and is aligned with saidplurality of spotting devices, said spotting devices being theneffective to deposit a complete set of freely standing bowling pins onsaid flat surface whereupon said driving means moves said platform toits first position while maintaining said flat surface horizontal toprevent toppling of the freely standing bowling pins thereon, and,during a respotting cycle, said driving means moves said platform whilemaintaining said surface horizontal from said first position to: arespotting position in which said platform is elevated above its firstposition and is aligned with said plurality of respotting devices, saidrespotting devices then being efiective to grip and hold standing respot pins on said platform whereupon said driving means moves saidplatform to a position, different from said respotting position, wherefallen pins are removed from said flat surface, then back to saidrespotting position where said respotting devices deposit the respotpins on said fiat surface and said driving means is then effective tomove said platform to its first position while maintaining said surfacehorizontal to prevent toppling of said respot pins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,994,411 Thomas Mar. 12, 1935 2,641,471 Timberlake June 9, 19532,781,195 Holloway et al Feb. 12, 1957 2,791,426 lanes May 7, 1957

1. IN A BOWLING PIN SPOTTING MACHINE, THE COMBINATION OF A GENERALLYHORIZONTAL STATIONARY TABLE FIXEDLY MOUNTED OUT OF THE LINE OF PLAY,SPOTTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID TABLE, RESPOTTING MEANS SUPPORTED BYSAID TABLE, A GENERALLY VERTICALLY MOVABLE PLATFORM DISPOSED BENEATHSAID TABLE AND ADAPTED TO SUPPORT A COMPLETE SET OF FREELY STANDINGBOWLING PINS IN PLAYING POSITIONS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PLATFORMVERTICALLY IN HORIZONTAL ASPECT RELATIVE TO SAID TABLE SEQUENTIALLYTHROUGH A PLURALITY OF PREDETERMINED POSITIONS TO PERFORM A SPOTTINGCYCLE AND A RESPOTTING CYCLE.